WordLens

collect

1 of 3verb
/kə.ˈlɛkt/
Forms:collects,collecting,collected,collected
1

to gather together things from different places or people

A2transitive
  • The students were instructed to collect leaves for their biology project.
  • The teacher asked the students to collect data for their science project.
  • The scientist collected samples of soil and water from different locations for environmental analysis.
  • The farmer collected ripe apples from the orchard to sell at the farmer's market.
2

to gather payments owed by individuals or entities

transitive
  • The landlord hired a collection agency to collect overdue rent payments from tenants who had fallen behind.
  • The utility company sent representatives to collect utility bills from residents in the neighborhood.
  • The tax authorities dispatched officers to collect outstanding taxes from delinquent taxpayers.
  • The insurance company employed agents to collect premium payments from policyholders.
  • The library implemented a new system to collect fines for overdue books.
Synonyms:
3

to get and keep interesting or valuable items of a particular kind as a pastime

transitive
  • He has been collecting baseball cards since he was a child and now has an impressive collection.
  • John collects rare stamps from around the world.
  • My grandmother collects porcelain dolls and has a vast display in her living room.
  • She enjoys collecting vintage coins as a hobby.
  • The museum curator collects antique artworks for the museum's collection.
4

to assemble into a unified body or gathering

  • The students collected in the auditorium for the morning assembly.
  • Protesters collected in the town square to voice their concerns about environmental policies.
  • The employees collected in the conference room for the monthly staff meeting.
  • Fans of the band collected outside the concert venue hours before the show.
  • Residents of the neighborhood collected at the community center to discuss local issues.
Antonyms:
5

to gather contributions from individuals or organizations for a charitable cause or purpose

transitive
  • The nonprofit organization collected donations to provide food and shelter for the homeless population.
  • Volunteers collected funds outside the grocery store for disaster relief efforts following the hurricane.
  • The charity event collected donations to support medical research and treatment for rare diseases.
  • The community center collected donations of clothing and blankets for families affected by the fire.
  • The animal shelter collected monetary donations to care for abandoned pets and provide veterinary services.
Synonyms:
6

make a telephone call or mail a package so that the recipient pays

7

to go and get something that belongs to one or is ready for one

transitive
  • You can collect your luggage over there.
  • She went to collect her package from the mailroom.
  • He will collect his prescription from the pharmacy.
  • They need to collect their tickets at the counter.
  • He collected his belongings after the meeting.